The Singing Blade Walkthrough - Dragon Age: The Veilguard Guide - IGN (2024)

Following the bombastic finale of Shadows Crossing, the fifth main quest of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, The Singing Blade, brings you back to the ritual site where the game began. Here’s what you need to know about loot you can find and enemies you’ll face.

Retrieve the Lyrium Dagger

Your main objective here will be to find the dagger that Solas used in the introduction. When you arrive, head forward and talk to Harding to properly begin the quest.

During this conversation, you’ll be prompted for a dialogue option by Harding, who’s reminiscing on her indecision. Say "We all take the blame" to get approval from both Harding and Neve.

When you regain control of your party, drop off to the left to proceed toward your objective. Stop right after you drop down to the marshy area to find some Heartwood, then head past the patch of pure magic to open up the door. You’ll see a screaming Darkspawn, and your party speculates if it might’ve taken the dagger.

There’s only one way to find out: proceed further into the ruins.

Follow the Ghoul

Destroy the blight to your left by hitting the pulsating boils with an attack, then go up the stairs. You’ll face a large Darkspawn, but it looks much scarier than it is. Follow a similar strategy to the one you followed to take out the mechanical enemies during In Entropy’s Grasp, and you’ll have no problems.

Once you defeat the large enemy, head to your right to find a green pot and boarded-up area. Collect the health potion if you need it, then roll through the boarded-up area and head up the stairs to proceed.

You’ll come across a new device for the first time: a beam generator. Take control of it, then point it towards the conduit above the closed door to open your path.

When you head towards the door, don’t go back the way you came. Instead, descend down to your left to find a Fade-touched Crystal, a rare material. Then, proceed towards the objective marker, collecting the chest on your way to get some Gold and equipment.

Eventually, you’ll see another green pot, as well as a pouch of Gold and some Heartwood next to it. Collect these, then head up the stairs to proceed. You’ll have a short fight with some weak Darkspawn as you leave the structure you were in, followed by a tougher encounter by the pools after.

This fight also introduces the concepts of stagger and takedowns. The stagger meter is the thin purple bar that appears above enemies’ health bars. When this bar is full, the enemy is at low health, and you’re within range, you’ll be prompted to press the right stick for a powerful takedown. Certain actions, like ranged attacks, hardly have an effect on this gauge, while heavy attacks seem to be quite impactful.

After you defeat the Darkspawn, keep an eye out on the left of the arena to find some Fade-Touched Crystal.

As you approach your objective, you’ll likely notice the blight blocking your way. Destroy the pulsing mass in the middle of the area you fought the Darkspawn first, then hit the mass blocking your path, which should now be pulsing itself.

After you break through, stop to the right of the gate ahead to collect a health potion and small chest, then continue through towards the objective. There will be another chest shown on your map, but it’s unfortunately inaccessible at this point in the game.

As you approach the objective marker, you’ll catch another glimpse of the dagger thief, then be stopped by another blighted blockade. First, shoot the mass to your left with your ranged attack.

Then, head over to the cliff next to it. You’ll see the newly-glowing mass below the bridge. Shoot that one with your ranged attack as well.

Finally, shoot the boil in the center to truly clear your way forward. Bring the power crystal right outside to the socket, open the chest for a new weapon, then proceed towards the objective.

After you defeat the Darkspawn, you can power a couple more crystals to open your way to a nice chest. Head to the corner to the right of the large mass of blight. Here, you’ll find some Etheric Remnant, a currency type that you’ll be able to use later.

Then, look to the other corner, which is blocked by some weak wood that you can roll through. Climb up the ladder, then jump across the gap to reach the first beam generator. Point it to one of the power sockets, then jump back down.

The other beam generator is much simpler to reach. Simply climb the stairs visible below the generator, and you’re there! Point it at the other conduit, then go through the open gate to collect your prize: a chest with new equipment and Gold. Climb the ladder here and follow the path to find a pouch of Gold, more Etheric Remnant, and an additional small chest.

When you’re ready to proceed on the main path, destroy the glowing blighted mass in front of you. Take the ladder immediately in front of you down to collect a small chest, then follow the path towards the quest marker.

Mini-Boss: Protected Javelineer

The Protected Javelineer is the first enemy you’ve likely fought in quite some time that has a blue health bar. Your ranged attack will eat away at this barrier quickly, so utilize it to dispose of this fearsome foe with few problems!

After you defeat the javelin-wielding monster, don’t let your guard down yet; another brute is waiting to strike around the corner! Use your heavy attacks to dispose of him, then jump across the broken bridge. Loot the small chest to your right, then proceed the other direction.

When you get to the bottom of the cliffs in the cave, cross the stream to collect a small chest and other materials.

Proceed further through the lower part of the cave to find some Flawless Crystals and another chest, waiting for you below a waterfall. Back on the main path, you’ll have a final confrontation with the enemy you’ve been chasing.

Boss Fight: The Lyrium Ghoul

The Lyrium Ghoul, despite being one of the few bosses with only one health bar, is a surprisingly tough customer. Luckily, it also has a few glaring weaknesses. It doesn’t use any unblockable melee attacks, so if he’s coming close, using L1/LB to defend is an incredibly viable strategy.

When you’ll need to dodge, though, is when you see a red cone appear. This attack will inflict you with necrosis. Dodge to your left or right to avoid being inflicted with this status!

After you take down the ghoul, in a cutscene you’ll see Harding have some strange consequences with Solas’s dagger. No time to reflect, though; you have more Darkspawn to defeat! This arena fight culminates in the return of the Lyrium Ghoul. This time, though, he’s got a blue health bar in addition to his standard one. Remember to use ranged attacks to pull down this barrier first.

The Lyrium Ghoul’s got another trick up its sleeve this time around too. When it’s in danger, it will jump into one of the pools of blight and emerge from another. Stay on your toes, and stay aware of where the ghoul is popping out!

Once you win the battle, you’ll recoup with your party at the Lighthouse and reconcile with what Harding’s new abilities could mean for the future. Your first dialogue choice doesn’t have any effect, but she’ll approve if you choose the option "Just make sure to aim" in the second dialogue choice. After that, it’s time to have a chat with Solas.

Next up is the The Enemy of My Enemy Walkthrough.